Narrative:

Before leaving mdw for ord we picked up the ord ATIS along with the mdw ATIS. Information B was current at ord M47 overcast 5 southwest 7/2/3507/034 landing 32L and 27R. So upon receiving that information we pulled out the approach plates for those runways since it would be a quick flight. We tuned in taffs LOM just in case they were to give us 27R (ord) after takeoff and handed off to ord approach control. They advised us that we could expect the ILS 27. If left or right was specified, it went right by me. Now I just assumed 27R because of ATIS B. In the course of the flight ord changed the ATIS and was now landing runway 27L and 27R. ATIS that we didn't receive. Ord approach had us at 4000' and radar vectors. They gave us a heading of 320 degrees to intercept the localizer and cleared to 3000' until established. The next transmission from approach controller asked if we had the localizer. I said no. Approach said, 'I show you about a mile north of course. Do you have the right frequency tuned in?' I said yes, 110.5, isn't it? Approach said, 'no, 111.1 27L, you're on 27R.' about this time the localizer for 27R came in. I dialed in 111.1 27L and started back over for 27L with a descent on the G/south. The angle of intercept for 27L was in excess and it was obvious to me now that I had compounded my errors. At this point I executed and announced a missed approach. Approach control handed me off to tower for missed approach instructions. After receiving such instructions I was handed back to approach control and subsequently made the right approach. This incident probably could have been avoided had myself and my first officer hadn't set ourselves up before our departure from mdw and better judgement on my part. But I also think that the speed at which some controllers at ord issued clrncs is in excess and could be slowed a bit.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW PRESET ILS APCH FREQS AND THEN FAILED TO DETERMINE ACTUAL APCH ASSIGNMENT FROM APCH CTL. THIS RESULTED IN THE FLT CREW FAILING TO INTERCEPT THE PROPER ILS.

Narrative: BEFORE LEAVING MDW FOR ORD WE PICKED UP THE ORD ATIS ALONG WITH THE MDW ATIS. INFO B WAS CURRENT AT ORD M47 OVCST 5 SW 7/2/3507/034 LNDG 32L AND 27R. SO UPON RECEIVING THAT INFO WE PULLED OUT THE APCH PLATES FOR THOSE RWYS SINCE IT WOULD BE A QUICK FLT. WE TUNED IN TAFFS LOM JUST IN CASE THEY WERE TO GIVE US 27R (ORD) AFTER TKOF AND HANDED OFF TO ORD APCH CTL. THEY ADVISED US THAT WE COULD EXPECT THE ILS 27. IF LEFT OR RIGHT WAS SPECIFIED, IT WENT RIGHT BY ME. NOW I JUST ASSUMED 27R BECAUSE OF ATIS B. IN THE COURSE OF THE FLT ORD CHANGED THE ATIS AND WAS NOW LNDG RWY 27L AND 27R. ATIS THAT WE DIDN'T RECEIVE. ORD APCH HAD US AT 4000' AND RADAR VECTORS. THEY GAVE US A HDG OF 320 DEGS TO INTERCEPT THE LOC AND CLRED TO 3000' UNTIL ESTABLISHED. THE NEXT XMISSION FROM APCH CTLR ASKED IF WE HAD THE LOC. I SAID NO. APCH SAID, 'I SHOW YOU ABOUT A MILE N OF COURSE. DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT FREQ TUNED IN?' I SAID YES, 110.5, ISN'T IT? APCH SAID, 'NO, 111.1 27L, YOU'RE ON 27R.' ABOUT THIS TIME THE LOC FOR 27R CAME IN. I DIALED IN 111.1 27L AND STARTED BACK OVER FOR 27L WITH A DSCNT ON THE G/S. THE ANGLE OF INTERCEPT FOR 27L WAS IN EXCESS AND IT WAS OBVIOUS TO ME NOW THAT I HAD COMPOUNDED MY ERRORS. AT THIS POINT I EXECUTED AND ANNOUNCED A MISSED APCH. APCH CTL HANDED ME OFF TO TWR FOR MISSED APCH INSTRUCTIONS. AFTER RECEIVING SUCH INSTRUCTIONS I WAS HANDED BACK TO APCH CTL AND SUBSEQUENTLY MADE THE RIGHT APCH. THIS INCIDENT PROBABLY COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD MYSELF AND MY F/O HADN'T SET OURSELVES UP BEFORE OUR DEP FROM MDW AND BETTER JUDGEMENT ON MY PART. BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THE SPD AT WHICH SOME CTLRS AT ORD ISSUED CLRNCS IS IN EXCESS AND COULD BE SLOWED A BIT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.